British Rowing and British Canoeing unify

On Thursday June 18th, British Rowing and British Canoeing hosted a joint on-water rowing and canoeing ‘splash and dash’ inter-college fun regatta. This is the first event of its kind.

The regatta is part of the R.A.C.E (Rowing and Canoeing Event series) which was established by Chris Farrell (British Rowing) and Ben Seal (British Canoeing) in which has supported developing canoeing and rowing opportunities in the Black Country and Dudley area. A similar indoor event took place in the winter. (This was placed on the British Rowing website if you wanted to cross-reference)

Walsall College, Dudley College and BMET Stourbridge College attended the event.

The event has come from key participation partnership work in the colleges. The colleges involved have worked with British Rowing and British Canoeing to support partaking in indoor rowing/ canoeing and then outdoor in the spring.

Each college attended a 6 week learn to row course up to the event. This was part of the Dudley ‘Let’s Get Rowing Project’. This is supported by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council public health and British Rowing.

The Black Country Consortium Sports Partnership sponsored the regatta.

Participants enjoyed splash and dash racing over a short sprint distances in both rowing and kayak boats.

Each college raced against one another and the winner of each race gained a point. After some close racing, Walsall College came out as champions. This means that they are the 2015 indoor and outdoor rowing and canoeing champions.

Special well done should go to Dudley College who entered the only female team. And Stourbridge College too.